Meet Our Team

Piccolo Heath LLP

We are a team of dedicated Toronto and Mississauga employment lawyers with over 30 years of combined experience. We approach the practice of law in a principled and practical manner. We believe that forging a true partnership with our clients is key to our mutual success. We understand our clients’ current employment-related needs and work to forecast their future requirements. We are grateful for the trust that our clients place in us and strive to build long lasting relationships with each of them.

Partners

Patrizia Piccolo

B.A., LL.B., Partner

Patrizia provides strategic advice to both large and small employers and their human resources and management teams. Patrizia also advises employers on employment-related regulatory issues, including compliance with the Employment Standards Act, 2000, Human Rights Code, Labour Relations Act, 1995 and Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.

Patrizia is a trusted advisor to senior executives requiring transition assistance, whether they are evaluating job offers or severance packages. Patrizia also has extensive experience with guiding individuals who have been named in a workplace complaint so that they understand their legal rights and obligations.

Patrizia’s Unique Skills

Patrizia is dedicated to providing her clients with excellent legal counsel and client service. With 20 years of experience, Patrizia’s primary focus is providing her clients with a “buffet table of options” and then guiding them to find the best solution to their specific issues. Patrizia is able to take the complex and convert it to something that is accessible. Patrizia prides herself on instilling confidence and empowerment in her clients, while also earning their friendship and trust.

Patrizia’s Media Appearances and Publications

A genuine people person, Patrizia is frequently asked by clients, boards of trade, educational institutions, industry organizations and human resources associations to appear as a guest speaker on employment law matters. Patrizia is often quoted in the media on matters relating to the workplace. She is a sought after employment law expert and has appeared on City TV, been quoted in the Law Times, been a guest on CBC News Radio andpublished articles in HR Reporter, the Mississauga News, Lead Magazine,and many other Canadian publications.

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Patrizia is an avid reader, a wife, and a proud mother of two boys (and a sponsoreddaughter, Alexandra, living in Peru). Her “non-lawyering” time is spent attending soccer games, hockey games and tennis matches with her kids and, when time permits, swimming or walking in one of Toronto’s many beautiful parks.

Year of Call, 1998
B.A. University of Toronto
LL.B. Osgoode Hall Law School
Member: Law Society of Upper Canada, Ontario Bar Association, Canadian Bar Association and HRPA.LinkedInDownload vCard

Jennifer Heath

B.Sc., LL.B., Partner

Jennifer is dedicated to improving the health and productivity of her clients’ workplaces. She is well-versed in current employment-related case law and statutes, but is also sensitive to the practical impact of the law on both her employer and employee clients.

With her solid experience in handling a wide range of workplace issues, Jennifer has represented small to large-sized organizations across various industry sectors, including manufacturing, energy and technology. In addition to assisting employer clients, Jennifer also represents senior employee clients, both in pre-litigation negotiations and in the courtroom.

Over nearly ten years of practice, she has worked on many employment law matters for her clients, such as drafting employment and independent contractor agreements and workplace policies. She also provides strategic advice regarding termination, restructuring and disability management issues. Jennifer is a seasoned litigator, and has successfully handled numerous motions, hearings and mediations.

Jennifer’s Unique Skills

Growing up in a family business, Jennifer learned about successful employee and customer relations from an early age. She has taken that knowledge and applied it to her own practice. Jennifer’s strengths lie in helping clients take productive, decisive steps to address workplace issues, but also in preventing such problems from arising again. Jennifer thrives on the successes of her clients and their workplaces.

Media Appearances and Publications

Jennifer has commented on recent cases in various publications, including the Law Times. She is a frequent guest at human resource association events across Ontario. She is also a regular blogger.

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In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys playing basketball, spending time with her family and learning to cook. She loves to travel – her recent trips include a safari in Sri Lanka and a road trip to watch the Jays play at Wrigley Field.

Year of Call, 2008
B.Sc. University of Toronto
LL.B. University of Western Ontario
Member: Law Society of Upper Canada, Ontario Bar Association and Canadian Bar AssociationLinkedInDownload vCard

Associates

Cynthia C. Ingram

B.A.Econ., LL.B., Associate

Cynthia is a senior lawyer who is respected by her clients and peers alike. She provides proactive advice and representation to employer and employee clients on human resource and employment-related matters, including human rights, occupational health and safety requirements, and risk-management.

With a focus on management needs, she works with the management teams, Human Resources and Corporate Security divisions of businesses of various sizes and diverse industries ranging from family-owned businesses and start-ups, to large public and multi-national corporations to provide strategic advice and operational support towards comprehensive workplace policies and practice. Her wide range of experience includes counselling and representing clients on a variety of employment related issues, including hiring practices, employment and service agreements, employee policies and procedures, performance management, managing employee leaves of absence, employee discipline and termination, occupational health and safety, and discrimination and harassment.

She also provides comprehensive advice to Senior Management and Executives on compensation, remuneration and share entitlements. A skilled litigator, her expertise includes advising clients in the practical avoidance of litigation on contentious workplace and employment disputes, and representing clients before all levels of Courts and administrative tribunals in Ontario if and when litigation results.

Cynthia’s Unique Skills

Prior to focusing her practice to employment law, Cynthia practiced in commercial litigation and held the role of Senior Counsel and Head of Litigation for North American’s largest competitive retailer of energy-related services. With this background, Cynthia is able to “get in the trenches” to identify and understand the business needs and strategies of her employer clients and offer practical advice and solutions. She is recognized for her attention to detail, and for being able to develop a unique alliance with her clients – developing practical strategies to enable them to navigate all statutory and human resources obligations and achieve sound workplace practices and policies.

Certified in The Reid Technique of Advanced Interviewing and Interrogation, Cynthia also has experience working with parties in addressing allegations of bullying, harassment, fraud and workplace misconduct. Cynthia assists and advises business owners and Human Resources personnel on all aspects of workplace investigations, including providing an objective review and assessment of workplace complaints and allegations of employee misconduct.

Media Appearances and Publications

With a passion for training and education, Cynthia has developed and delivered training for Senior Management, Human Resources representatives, and operational personnel. In recognition of her dedication and commitment to developing best practices, Cynthia is often invited to speak before human resource associations in addition to in-house seminars on matters addressing all practices and aspects of the employment relationship. In addition to her seminar attendances, Cynthia has commented on caselaw and employment issues in regular newsletters, First Reference Talks, has appeared on the Canadian HR Reporter TV, and commented on issues of workplace harassment for David McKie, a CBC News journalist.

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Beyond her professional career, Cynthia is a proud wife and mother of two teenagers whom she cheers on in competitive dance and lacrosse. When not in the office, you will likely find Cynthia offering her services in another capacity. Her commitment to her family and the broader community sees her volunteering in several capacities with her local school, dance and lacrosse communities. Cynthia is also keen in her own extra-curricular activities of tap and jazz dancing, and her recent entry into the world of kick boxing.

For some, Cynthia will be remembered as the winner of the coveted mirror-ball trophy in the Community Foundation of Mississauga’s 2014 Dancing with the Mississauga Stars.

Year of Call, 1995
B.A. (Econ.) University of Western Ontario (now Western University)
LL.B. University of British Columbia (including studies at UC Hastings College of Law)
Member: Law Society of Upper CanadaLinkedInDownload vCard

Chetan Muram

B.A., J.D., Associate

Chetan is an associate at Piccolo Heath LLP.He provides strategic support to employer and employee clients on a range of workplace issues. This includes employment litigation, human rights matters, occupational health and safety inquiries, and workers’ compensation.

In addition, Chetan assists in providing proactive advice to employers on a range of workplace issues such as structuring internal policies and complying with relevant legislation.

Chetan’s Unique Skills

Both inside and outside the classroom, Chetan has had extensive international experience. This experience exposed him to a wide-range of perspectives. These perspectives inform his open-minded, nuanced approach to the unique workplace challenges both employers and employees may face.

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Outside of work, Chetan is heavily involved in health and human rights work. He currently serves as a board member with the Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention (ASAAP).During law school, he was president of the University of Toronto’s Global Health and Human Rights Working Group.

Chetan enjoys taking full advantage of all that Toronto has to offer. In his spare time, he can often be found trying new restaurants, checking out local concerts and festivals, and optimistically cheering on Toronto sports teams.

Year of Call: 2018Undergrad: B.A., McGill UniversityLaw School: University of TorontoLinkedIn

Staff

Courtney Smith

Senior Assistant and Firm Manager

Courtney is the Senior Assistant and Firm Manager and has worked with the team since January 2014. She grew up in Shedden (known as the Rhubarb Capital of Ontario) and received her BA in Criminology from Western University in 2012. Courtney is known for her rapport with clients and her collaborative nature. She brings initiative, versatility and proficiency to her work every day. Outside of the office, Courtney is passionate about her family, travel, animals, food and movies. In her spare time, Courtney can be found playing basketball or cheering on the Toronto Raptors.

Sabrina Morcos

Summer Student / J.D. Candidate 2021

Sabrina is a Summer Student and joined the firm in May of 2019. She discovered her passion for employment law following an internship at Piccolo Heath LLP during the summer of 2018. She is completing a joint program in common law and political science at the University of Ottawa. Her studies in political science as well as her time spent volunteering for the Ottawa Law Review have fostered effective research skills. Outside of the office, you can find Sabrina on the soccer field.

Jessica Orr

Senior Assistant / Clerk and Marketing Coordinator

Jessica is the Senior Assistant / Clerk and Marketing Coordinator and has been working with the team since June 2016. She studied political science at Carleton University and completed the Law Clerk program at Seneca College. At work, she is responsible for the bulk of the firm’s litigation files. Jessica is dedicated to excellent client customer service, and keeps the Luddites at the firm on top of important technological and organizational upgrades. Her pastimes include listening to too many podcasts, learning random trivia and crocheting cute things.

Hailey Ramkaran

Senior Assistant/Clerk

Hailey is a Senior Assistant/Clerk and joined the team in September 2018. She studied Legal Studies at the University of Waterloo and completed the Paralegal program at Seneca College. She is very organized and prides herself on her client service and legal research skills. She enjoys travelling, playing with her dog and tutoring children in English, French and History.